10-year cost of the 7 resorts - are BLT/VWL/BCV worth their much higher cost?

[GoofyMac]

If you're hoping to go in early December, you should plan on booking sooner than 6 months out and I wouldn't get your hopes up for BCV/BWV/BLT/VWL for that time frame for a 10-night trip. That has become the BUSIEST time at DVC and many, many people reported this year that they had to keep their reservations at their home resorts because the other resorts had zero availability at seven months out.

If you think this time period might be when you typically will visit Disney (especially for a long trip such as 10 nights) you may want to rethink your home resort (and also make it a point to book earlier than your 3-6 month time frame) if you don't want to stay at SSR during that time of year.

it is way to busy for us at this time of year as a family. An adults only weekend trip would be in cards if the opportunity and availability to do so was there. I was using that as an example because the calculator that I was using did not have the 2013 points entered in it yet and we booked into the Beach Club Villas for next May though our Disney Vacation Expert.

 

[Missyrose]

it is way to busy for us at this time of year as a family. An adults only weekend trip would be in cards if the opportunity and availability to do so was there. I was using that as an example because the calculator that I was using did not have the 2013 points entered in it yet and we booked into the Beach Club Villas for next May though our Disney Vacation Expert.

Try this DVC points calculator instead, it has 2013 point charts available.

 

[GoofyMac]

I know about renting and transferring points from other members but did not know that The Timeshare Store provided this service. I would love to be able to do this through a reputable place and not have to worry about payment to private individuals. I will be waiting to hear more about this.

We have 470 points per year, 310 at BLT and 160 at BCV (not near enough)and I'm still looking for more.

Thanks for the heads up!!

This is the listing on one of the E-Mails that I received from the Timeshare Store a while back.

We also have 40 2012 points that can be transferred into your Disney Vacation Club membership. They are 40 Vero Beach points. They can be used between NOW and 12/1/12. If you are interested you must take all 40 points. The price for these points is $10 per point or $400.

When I e-mailed them with a question they confirmed that is was indeed possible to do so. I asked our DVC Host about transferring points at our last presentation and it was also confirmed there as well. Though I have not heard of many people doing this. It seems like a good way to ensuring that if you are short on points for a specific trip or accommodation this is how you can get to the point level you need to be at.

 

[GoofyMac]

Try this DVC points calculator instead, it has 2013 point charts available.

Thank you very much. Using that calculator I would need 325 Saratoga Springs points for the same vacation and a standard view 1 bedroom villa. Beach Club villas would be 365 points for what I booked at the Passholder rate for the same dates.

Thank you very much Very helpful indeed.

 

[montrealdisneylovers]

I used the Timeshare Store to transfer points back in January of 2012 and it worked very smoothly. I just called them up and told them what I was looking for and within several hours they were in my account.

I had to transfer the money first to the Timeshare Store (via Paypal) and then was told to call Member Services to check my account to make sure the points were there (I guess before they paid the transferor).

You may not get the exact number you want. I believe I was looking for 40 points but had to take 47.

It seemed a lot simpler than trying to post on the rent trade board here. I don`t think you can even post that you are looking for a transfer. Rather, you have to wait until someone posts that they want to transfer and then try to be one of the first to get the points. Using the Timeshare Store (in my case) was a lot more efficient.

 

[GoofyMac]

Thank you for sharing with us your experience. Every time I have talked with the staff at the Timeshare Store i have been impressed.

I am feeling much more comfortable making my purchase with them. We will see in the next few months what comes available and where I am financially. We are getting closer and closer to becoming DVC members and getting very excited about it.

Though any time you are able to save money on a Disney Vacation and have hedged your vacation dollar for decades to come it is time to get excited. Even with our pass holders discount every year the savings are much better buying a DVC membership.

 

[montrealdisneylovers]

Thank you for sharing with us your experience. Every time I have talked with the staff at the Timeshare Store i have been impressed.

I am feeling much more comfortable making my purchase with them. We will see in the next few months what comes available and where I am financially. We are getting closer and closer to becoming DVC members and getting very excited about it.

Though any time you are able to save money on a Disney Vacation and have hedged your vacation dollar for decades to come it is time to get excited. Even with our pass holders discount every year the savings are much better buying a DVC membership.

Not only did we do our point transfer with them but we purchased our 2 contracts through them and once again, everything went smoothly. Good luck, it is an exciting time!!!

 

[DizBub]

You may not get the exact number you want. I believe I was looking for 40 points but had to take 47.

Were you able to get a certain UY and were you able to bank the points you didn't need? I have always heard if you get a point transfer that those points won't show up in your account on DVCMember.com. True?

 

[montrealdisneylovers]

Were you able to get a certain UY and were you able to bank the points you didn't need? I have always heard if you get a point transfer that those points won't show up in your account on DVCMember.com. True?

I always plan my trips about 2 years in advance. Last January as I was planning my trip for this December, I realized that I would have to borrow quite a few points from my 2013 use year and that I would not have enough points left for my December 2013 trip. I emailed the Timeshare Store and was very specific in what I was planning to do and what I needed. They found me points that I was able to bank and then use at my 11 month window for my upcoming trip. Use year was not really a concern to me. I used up all the transferred points and borrowed less from my future use year.

It is true that the points do not show on DVCMember.com which is why I had to call Member Services to make sure they were there. I was told my the Timeshare store that it could take 48 hours but it went much faster. Perhaps I got really lucky but if this is how the transfers work normally, I would absolutely do it again with them if needed.

 

[taaren]

Were you able to get a certain UY and were you able to bank the points you didn't need? I have always heard if you get a point transfer that those points won't show up in your account on DVCMember.com. True?

The points will not appear in your account online unless you happen to have the same UY and the same Home Resort as your own points, then they get lumped together with your own points. This happened to me once by accident, and others reported the same. I was concerned with the home resort but not with the UY for those points so having the same UY was just a bonus. If you have a specific travel frame time in mind, then you can select from a range of UYs that would work well for that trip's points to be transferred in.

Otherwise, Member Services can see the points if it is a different UY/home resort.

 

[DizBub]

Thank you montrealdisneylovers and taaren for the replies.

It really helps a lot!!

 

[DVC Dude]

I think, no matter how you analyze the numbers, buying resale at SSR will probably be the best in terms of lowest cost.

I also think buying BLT resale will be a small upgrade and will provide a better location and will have higher resale value.

Thus, if saving money is most important, buy SSR

If location to MK is most important, buy BLT

 

[DougEMG]

I think, no matter how you analyze the numbers, buying resale at SSR will probably be the best in terms of lowest cost.

I also think buying BLT resale will be a small upgrade and will provide a better location and will have higher resale value.

Thus, if saving money is most important, buy SSR

If location to MK is most important, buy BLT

Totally agree.

 

[GoofyMac]

We just love Saratoga Springs. Although it isnt in close proximity (Walking Distance) to any of the parks, Downtown Disney is. It is nice and quiet and has all the amenities that we enjoy.

Buying resale is pretty much where I am going and there are some pretty good offers listed for Saratoga Springs.

Thanks for the info on the points transfers. Extremely helpful.

 

[DizBub]

We just love Saratoga Springs. Although it isnt in close proximity (Walking Distance) to any of the parks, Downtown Disney is. It is nice and quiet and has all the amenities that we enjoy.

Buying resale is pretty much where I am going and there are some pretty good offers listed for Saratoga Springs.

Thanks for the info on the points transfers. Extremely helpful.

Don't discount the fact that the member fees only went up .08pp for next year for SSR. Great value.

 

[tjkraz]

Don't discount the fact that the member fees only went up .08pp for next year for SSR. Great value.

The prior year it went up $.18 or 4.8%.

Looking at one year doesn't say anything meaningful about past or future trends.

 

[DizBub]

The prior year it went up $.18 or 4.8%.

Looking at one year doesn't say anything meaningful about past or future trends.

Still much better than the .28 or 6.52% hit that we BLT owners got. Over 6% two years in a row.........not a good trend.

 

[tjkraz]

Still much better than the .28 or 6.52% hit that we BLT owners got. Over 6% two years in a row.........not a good trend.

I can appreciate the sticker shock but it's still just 2 years out of 50. If you're making a purchasing decision (which is the topic here), is there any reason to believe that BLT dues will continue to increase at a higher rate than SSR or any other resort?

All DVC resorts provide essentially the same services. There are variances in building materials and furnishings which will lead to differing refurb timelines. Property taxes will vary.

But the biggest cost--salaries and benefits--should rise at the same pace for all properties (at least, all at WDW.) They are all subject to the same utility prices, gas prices (transportation) and other similar factors.

The last two years at BLT strike me more as an adjustment than anything else. In fact, I'm certain the 2012 increase was an adjustment--we don't yet have any details for 2013. BLT is a younger resort with management that is still searching for the right balance in certain areas. Case in point--the front desk additions in late 2012.

The '13 dues should be taken into consideration when performing any price analysis. But I think it would be foolish to assume BLT increases of 6% annually vs. 1.5% at SSR going forward.

 

[DougEMG]

I can appreciate the sticker shock but it's still just 2 years out of 50. If you're making a purchasing decision (which is the topic here), is there any reason to believe that BLT dues will continue to increase at a higher rate than SSR or any other resort?

All DVC resorts provide essentially the same services. There are variances in building materials and furnishings which will lead to differing refurb timelines. Property taxes will vary.

But the biggest cost--salaries and benefits--should rise at the same pace for all properties (at least, all at WDW.) They are all subject to the same utility prices, gas prices (transportation) and other similar factors.

The last two years at BLT strike me more as an adjustment than anything else. In fact, I'm certain the 2012 increase was an adjustment--we don't yet have any details for 2013. BLT is a younger resort with management that is still searching for the right balance in certain areas. Case in point--the front desk additions in late 2012.

The '13 dues should be taken into consideration when performing any price analysis. But I think it would be foolish to assume BLT increases of 6% annually vs. 1.5% at SSR going forward.

At some point the benefits of the high rise will kick in and the MF increases come into line with all the other resorts. If BLT owners are lucky, maybe within the next year or two. If I owned there I wouldn't start panicking yet.

 

[DizBub]

I can appreciate the sticker shock but it's still just 2 years out of 50. If you're making a purchasing decision (which is the topic here), is there any reason to believe that BLT dues will continue to increase at a higher rate than SSR or any other resort?



The '13 dues should be taken into consideration when performing any price analysis. But I think it would be foolish to assume BLT increases of 6% annually vs. 1.5% at SSR going forward.

Had we known when we bought BLT how much we would like SSR we probably would have bought there instead. Would have saved a bundle in up-front costs. My advice to new buyers would be to seriously consider SSR resale just because it does seem to be the all around best combination of buy-in costs and MFs and you can stay at other resorts at 7 months.

That said, I don't regret owning BLT and I'm not panicking quite yet. Waiting for the explanation of why MFs went up so much 2 years in a row. Can understand an occasional adjustment but this seems a bit high.